Thread: What are you working on?

Well my latest project is almost done and as usual I got all excited and didn't take a Before Picture so the sellers picture will have to do.

It's not the best but it's better than nothing.



The casting on the top piece says:
Re Issued
OCT 15 72

The top comes off so that another base that was on the wood stove heating could be used, then the first one went back on the stove and the cycle began again. Also there were different sizes of Sad Irons so whoever was ironing could change sizes. And yes they are also called Flat Irons however Sad Iron is what I've always heard them called.

Here's the top pieces after I'd gotten them cleaned up. The wooden handle had 'some' wood showing but it was basically covered in grime so I used some solvents and got it back to bare wood. However the solvents removed any stain or oil that might have been there. Here you'll see where I was experimenting with darkening the wood.



Here's how it goes together/Less the Handle (You pull up on the wooden nob to release the top piece). I was really surprised to find a brass tensioner, I'd really thought that it would be steel.



Well I liked the result of my experiment on the handle so I did the entire thing with a light coat of 'peanut oil' then rubbed it in let it air dry and rubbed it with a clean cloth. I've handled old wooden handles and this looks and feel like well worn wood from days gone by.



I'm not going to tackle the base here at the Boars Nest, that's going to a friends automotive machine shop for a ride in their heated acid bath dishwasher. Honest! That's basically what the thing is!

I'll post the finished results when I get it done.

This will be on display at the museum back home. Now if I can get with my buddy Ski and finish up the razor and strop display for them that I've been wanting to finish up for a couple + years. Yes Tom it will be your strop! I'm sorry it's taking so long.

Well the machine shop said that their solution wouldn't remove the rust so they allowed me use of their blast chamber N/C so here's the finished Sad Iron ready for delivery and display.



And Assembled;

Nice work! All the irons I have seen have a heat caused patina. The only finished part is the ironing surface. I Had heard...unproven...that there was a waxy product applied to the sole/ ironing surface.
Whatever you do to finish the iron will be correct. There was also a gas heater similar to a old soldering copper heater with stick plate above the two gas burners again, a very nice save!
~Richard

Hi
The razor is a full hollow ground type, traditional.
I am talking about the edge.
A good hone shows a band across the edge that is uniform in width from toe to heel.
what I was seeing was a section missing the band in the middle.
I kept honing the side that had the hollow until I could see a band crossing the center area.
THe center area before I started had a "Frown" instead of a "smile" edge. referring to the curve of the edge. Seen this called this in honing vids.
I could see this when I held a straight edge up to the light and holding the edge of the razor touching the straight edge.
I could see light where the frown was.

Thanks for your interest.


I

Nice old iron from the days of wood stoves. Grin.

I had a gasoline heated iron for a while.
It worked much like a Coleman lantern with a flame for heat.

Originally Posted by Geezer

Nice work! All the irons I have seen have a heat caused patina. The only finished part is the ironing surface. I Had heard...unproven...that there was a waxy product applied to the sole/ ironing surface.
Whatever you do to finish the iron will be correct. There was also a gas heater similar to a old soldering copper heater with stick plate above the two gas burners again, a very nice save!
~Richard

At this point in time I'm leaning on just giving all of the fresh iron and steel surfaces a coat of WD 40 then wipe it off very well and leave it at that.

However!

I've considered heating and cooling the base a few times but I'm not sure if I should. Between the areas of crud on the base it looked like it have been 'blued' at one time.

Your thoughts?

Nice, Roy! Let's repop that thumb nut or restore it!

I am thinking of coating the cast iron parts with vegetable oil. Setting them on the gas grill for a while. Like a skillet?
Would be neat, I think.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Nice, Roy! Let's repop that thumb nut or restore it!

I am thinking of coating the cast iron parts with vegetable oil. Setting them on the gas grill for a while. Like a skillet?
Would be neat, I think.

Check your email my friend!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Check your email my friend!

I think a gnarly brass thumb nut is common. From old planes, etc. I think as you get the thing done and perhaps epoxy the handle in?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I think a gnarly brass thumb nut is common. From old planes, etc. I think as you get the thing done and perhaps epoxy the handle in?

The broken piece was made of wood so as to be an insulator from the heat of the iron. Brass is out of the question. Only Wood will work as a replicate piece.

I do hope we are talking apples to apples here

Nice work on that iron Roy!
It's not so sad anymore...


Throw me a drawing, maybe I could turn you a new one? Nut that is..